Brazil's test at the World Cup on home soil was crushed in a 7-1 elimination round battering by eventual champions Germany, an outcome that was contrasted with the hosts' scandalous annihilation to Uruguay in the peak of the 1950 competition.
An emphatic 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the third place play-off only added to the mood of disarray surrounding Brazil as the world's most successful footballing nation came to terms with its early exit.
In any case, quick forward almost a year, and Brazil are heading into the Copa America in Chile with recharged certainty after a succession of nine straight wins following the World Cup calamity under the direction of previous skipper Dunga.
Dunga, who succeeded Luiz Felipe Scolari, has overseen a steady return to winning ways since his reappointment.
Brazil's run of victories has included friendly wins over Colombia, Chile, Argentina and France, with Mexico becoming the latest victims in a 2-0 win in Sao Paulo on Sunday.
Dunga, who coached Brazil to their last Copa America win in 2007, believes the form of star striker Neymar is one of the keys to the revival.
One of Dunga's first acts last year was to hand the captain's armband to the Barcelona forward, and the 23-year-old has thrived on the added responsibility.
"It is not a surprise, but the statistics are there to show that when Neymar puts on the captain's armband, he takes a step forward," Dunga said in March.
"He is a player who likes challenges. The more responsibility he has, the more he will develop. He is making history in European football."
Neymar missed Sunday's friendly with Mexico but will reunite with the squad bristling with confidence after scoring the final goal for Barcelona in their 3-1 Champions League final defeat of Juventus on Saturday.
Neymar's late strike in Berlin was the final act of a superb season for the Spanish treble winners which saw him notch 39 goals.
Dunga believes Neymar's goalscoring performance in the Champions League final augurs well for Brazil's Copa America campaign.
"This is good for Brazilian football as a whole, having a player scoring in the final and winning the Champions League," Dunga said.
While the core of the Brazil squad is the same as the team torn asunder by Germany, Dunga has successfully blooded several new players who could play a part in Chile.
Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, Monaco defender Fabinho and Lazio's attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson all featured in the win over Mexico on Sunday, which also saw Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho score his first international goal for Brazil.
"We are on the right track, though we haven't got anywhere as yet. We must improve day by day individually and collectively," Dunga said.
Brazil open their Group C campaign against Peru in Temuco on Sunday before a standoff with Colombia on June 17 in Santiago, a rematch of their stormy World Cup quarterfinal a year ago which saw Neymar endure a cracked vertebra.
They then face Venezuela on June 21.
In the event that Brazil win Group C they will then face a quarterfinal meeting with the runner-up from Group B, conceivably either holders Uruguay or Argentina.
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